Crashendo! Revealed - our short doco on the Laverton Music Project!

Christopher Nicholls

Sat, Jan 28 2012 08:59

When we first began this remarkable journey with the children of Laverton, we thought it important that the first stages of the program should be preserved for all to see - also as a record of their remarkable achievement in their first year.

We hope you will enjoy watching this short but fascinating video on the Crashendo! Laverton Music Program, run by Sistema Australia.

Please feel free to send the link to your friends and colleagues - and share in the absolute joy of the children's exuberance in their performing, playing in their new orchestra and singing in their choir.

And the best, as they say, is yet to come!

The Results Speak For Themselves

Christopher Nicholls

Sat, Jan 21 2012 07:04

El Sistema is a phenomenal program of music education, which targets children from disadvantaged communities – particularly those in socio-economically depressed communities – and takes them through an intensive program of learning to play a musical instrument and sing, all in the context of orchestras and choirs. The process transforms them, both intrinsically (beautiful joyous music does this), and extrinsically (cognitively, and in developing skills of concentration, teamwork, discipline, self-respect, self-esteem etc.).

These are the five “fundamentals” which define El Sistema and El Sistema-based programs:

1. Social Change – The primary objective is social transformation through the pursuit of musical excellence. One happens through the other, and neither is prioritised at the expense of the other;

4. Accessibility – El Sistema programs are free, and are not selective in admission; and,

5. Connectivity – Every nucleo (Sistema music school) is linked at the urban, regional and national levels, forming a cohesive network of services and opportunities for students across the country.(Ref.: "The Five Fundamentals of El Sistema" - by Jonathan Govias, Abreu Fellow - Canadian Music Educator Journal, September 2011)

For a child who has never, nor would have, had the opportunity to learn a musical instrument and to play with others in an orchestra, but for this program, this is an extraordinary experience – and a tremendously positive one. It really does change their lives.

In Laverton, Melbourne, the Crashendo! pilot program has been running for six months; already it has made dramatic inroads both musically and socially. No one, including our own teaching artists was expecting such a rapid uptake and transformation of the children. Musically they have come from little or no experience in music, to being able to read musical notation and play simple music, in unison, in different parts, and within a full string orchestra. This sort of progress is not seen in any other children's music programs here in Australia, and is testament to the intensity and fun which is a hallmark of El Sistema-based programs. In the context of their lives and their family... it's been nothing short of extraordinary!

Recently Laverton College compiled a small survey of the children and the parent's perception of the effects of the program on the children and their families. These were the results:

1. Change in their confidence as a result of Crashendo!:

- 90% said that they had noticed an overall increase in their children's confidence.

2. Changes in their children's general happiness resulting from Crashendo!:

- 95% reported an increase in the general happiness of their children.

3. Changes in the children's hopes for their own future:

- 95% noticed a positive change in their children's hope for the future.

4. Changes that have led to an overall change in behaviour at home:

- 80% reported improved behaviour at home.

5. Changes in respect towards family of child involved with Crashendo!:

- 75% reported a greater level of respect from their children.

6. Crashendo! program making a difference to family:

- 65% get on better as a family now, post program.- 60% reported that they do more together as a family now.

7. Parent and children's development:

- 70% state that they are more confident as parents as a result of this program.- 90% of the children have made more friends through the program.- 75% of the children recognised they had learnt more skills than they originally had.- 95% of parents report they are more positive about their child's future now.

Isn't that incredible? It's even positively affecting their family – and thus the wider community too!

Sistema Australia Program: Crashendo!

Christopher Nicholls

Fri, Jan 13 2012 04:50

Crashendo! is Launched at Laverton!

Unique in Australia - Crashendo! enables children in disadvantaged communities to partake in a rich and powerful music program, specifically in instrument- and choir-based music in the context of an orchestra and ensemble.

Based on the world-renowned “El Sistema” music program in Venezuela, in Crashendo! the music process is simple yet powerful. We build orchestras and choirs by taking children on a musical journey. This takes them from little or no knowledge of music, to being capable, good musicians who not only can play instruments and sing, but in the context of a community of musicians– the orchestra and choir. It subtly develops teamwork, self-esteem, patience, discipline, respect, focus, concentration, and all the while building a musician out of the child.

Learning to play a musical instrument and experiencing music through playing and singing also significantly helps a developing child's brain cognitively. It is also understood to enhance children's abilities in other areas of learning - particularly in reading, arithmetic calculations, and in memory. Learning read music and playing an instrument strongly develops the powers of concentration too. Music is a powerful tool and something which is vital to our development as entire, well adjusted and intelligent human beings.

The most powerful thing that this program offers, is its ability to subtly imbue its participants with a level of socialisation unmatched by similar activities, such as sport or youth development schemes – making music is an intrinsic part of being human; making music together forms bonds based on friendship, teamwork, trust, respect, solidarity, harmony, mutual compassion and joy. There are no losers in this game. As El Sistema's founder, Jose Antonio Abreu states:

“An orchestra is a community where the essential and exclusive feature is that it is the only community that comes together with the fundamental objective of agreeing with itself. Agree on what? To create beauty...”

Please Donate to Sistema Australia's Music Programs!

You are invited to become a supporter of the Sistema Australia music programs. By making a tax deductible donation to the Australia Cultural Fund, operated by the Australia Business Arts Foundation – it will provide essential financial support for Sistema Australia's after-school music program for children during 2012.